Band of Horses was formed by Ben Bridwell (guitar, vocals) and Mat Brooke (guitar) in 2004 after the break-up of their previous band, Carissa's Wierd. Rob and Creighton were formerly of the mathrock band The New Mexicans before joining Band of Horses. The group initially got attention from Sub Pop records after opening for Iron & Wine in Seattle area shows. In 2005, the band released their debut EP, Band of Horses Tour EP, which was sold exclusively at shows and on Sub Pop's website. Their debut full-length, Everything All the Time was recorded in 2005 with producer Phil Ek and released on March 21, 2006 to generally good reviews.
On July 13, 2006, Band of Horses appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman sans Brooke. As of July 25, 2006, Mat Brooke left Band of Horses to focus more on his other band, Grand Archives, who had also signed to Sub Pop.
The band's second album, Cease to Begin, was released on October 9 2007. The band has recently moved its base of operations from Seattle to Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
Their album, Infinite Arms, was released in May of 2010.
Their album, Mirage Rock, was released in September 2012.
Their latest album, Why Are You OK? was released in June 2016.
The General Specific
Band of Horses Lyrics
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We had a close call
I didn't even see it, then another one
I hardly believed it at all
What the writers say, it means shit to me now
Plants and animals, we're on a bender when it's eighty degrees
At the end of December, what's going on?
With a show of hands, who's going back to the South?
We're hungry next that I know
And running the blender in a lightning storm
Are disguised as a blessing I'm sure
Growing up here, there comes a fork in the road
Pants have gotta go
We're on an island on the Fourth of July
It looks like the tide is going home
In time I'd find a little way to your heart
Down to the general store for nothing specific
Gonna wash my bones in the Atlantic shore
Only for you and me
The opening lines of the song "If the trials at hand are really getting you down, we had a close call, I didn't even see it, then another one, I hardly believed it at all," give the impression that the singer has been through some recent difficulties but has managed to come through them unscathed, almost buoyed by them. The following line, "What the writers say, it means shit to me now," could be indicative of the realization that what other people have to say about their experiences or understanding is irrelevant to the singer's own perception of the world. The lyrics "Plants and animals, we're on a bender when it's eighty degrees, at the end of December, what's going on?" are cryptic but could suggest a sense of disorientation felt by the singer, as if the world is turned upside down and nothing makes sense.
Line by Line Meaning
If the trials at hand are really getting you down
If you are feeling overwhelmed by the obstacles in your life
We had a close call
We narrowly avoided a dangerous situation
I didn't even see it, then another one
I was unaware of the first hazard, and then another one came unexpectedly
I hardly believed it at all
I couldn't believe what had just happened
What the writers say, it means shit to me now
I no longer care what the critics or analysts have to say
Plants and animals, we're on a bender when it's eighty degrees
The natural world seems to behave erratically during extreme temperatures
At the end of December, what's going on?
It's difficult to understand why things are happening the way they are
Only for you and me
These things matter only to us
With a show of hands, who's going back to the South?
Who wants to return to where they came from?
We're hungry next that I know
I am certain that we will soon be hungry
And running the blender in a lightning storm
Doing something dangerous despite the risks
Are disguised as a blessing I'm sure
Despite the danger, there can be benefits to taking risks
Growing up here, there comes a fork in the road
When you grow up here, you reach a point where you have to make an important decision
Pants have gotta go
We must adapt to the situation, even if it means changing our clothing
We're on an island on the Fourth of July
We are in a strange place on a holiday that is symbolic of freedom
It looks like the tide is going home
It appears that the tide is receding, leaving us behind
In time I'd find a little way to your heart
Eventually, I would find a way to connect with you emotionally
Down to the general store for nothing specific
Going to a place without any particular goal or intention
Gonna wash my bones in the Atlantic shore
Going to the ocean to rejuvenate myself
Only for you and me
This restorative experience is meaningful only to us
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Benjamin Bridwell, Creighton Russell Barrett, James Robert Hampton, Ryan Clark Monroe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind